Sussex PCC apologises for describing EU referendum result as a ‘modern peasants’ revolt’

Sussex PCC Katy Bourne

Published:06:12Friday 24 June 2016

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Sussex’s Police and Crime Commissioner has apologised for describing the EU referendum result as a ‘modern peasants’ revolt’ on Twitter on Friday morning.

The leave campaign has clinched victory and nine areas in Sussex backed Brexit, compared to four voting in favour of remaining in the EU.

Sussex PCC Katy Bourne described the result as a ‘modern peasants’ revolt’ and when questioned on the tweet, she said: “I’m a history major so it’s meant in that context i.e. the people have spoken, democracy and all that.”

The original tweet by Mrs Bourne was deleted within several minutes of being posted, and she said it was ‘mortifying’ to think that it had offended anyone, as it was meant ‘purely as a remark about a historic event that happened, also known as the Great Rising’.

She had not meant for it to be derogatory but after it was pointed out to her that the phrase could be misunderstood, she immediately took the tweet down.

Mrs Bourne added: “I never wanted to cause any distress at all but looking at it I do understand why people could take it in a different context.”

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